Trash & Recycling

The Environmental Services Team provides curbside trash and recycling collection services to over 33,000 homes in the City, as well as a number of other collection services for our citizens. The collection service program is operated as an enterprise fund, meaning that all costs associated with providing the various services are covered by user fees.

The Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule applies to city of Thornton trash and recycle customers only.

Not sure how to properly dispose of something? Simply type the name of the material into the Wizard and find out!

Use the Wizard

Need to place a service request?

Thornton trash customers can place many of our most common service requests online!

Order an additional black trash can. 

Order an additional green recycle can.

Order a lid replacement

Return a container.

Landfill Day

Dates:  Saturday, June 27, 2026

Time:  7 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where:  Republic Services Tower Landfill  19260 E. 88th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022

Guidelines: The gate fee is waived for Thornton residents to take non-hazardous debris to the landfill.  One vehicle load per household.  Pickup trucks, cars, and small single-axel trailers only.  Electronics and liquids will not be accepted.  Mattresses are subject to an additional fee.  All loads must be covered.  Restrictions and limitations apply.  Proof of residency is required.

Write it down!

It's a good idea to make a note of your container numbers.  Write them down or take a picture of them to keep in your phone!  If they wander away in a wind storm you'll know what cans belong to your home when you go to look for them!

What can I bring to the IMC?

The Infrastructure Maintenance Center (IMC) is located at 12450 Washington Street. Thornton residents only (no commercial or landscaping companies) may bring or drop-off the following on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.:

• ATTENTION - Cooking oil is no longer accepted for drop-off at the IMC.
• Motor oil, and antifreeze - in sealed gallon (or smaller) containers. Leave outside the metal employee entrance door, just north of the main lobby entrance doors that face Washington St. Limit of 4 gallons at a time.
• Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, & water heaters. Enter through the north gate at 126th Ave. & Ogden St.  Head south to the second gate which may be closed.  Press the Infrastructure button on the call box for access into the yard and let the operator know you are there to drop off an appliance for instructions on where to go.
• Organic material such as grass clippings, leaves, flowers, coffee grounds, food scraps.  Be prepared to open all bags on site. NO dirt, sod, or rocks.  The bin is located south of the main entrance, (126th Ave. & Ogden St.)  just outside of the interior gate.  Be prepared to open all bags on site.   Only 3-gallon compostable kitchen bags will be accepted. NO paper sacks or other compostable bags are allowed. 

*Paint, televisions, furniture, and general trash debris may NOT be dropped off at the IMC.  Please use the Waste Wizard for help disposing of these items and more! 

Solid Waste Fee Structure 

The current fee for Thornton’s Solid Waste Collection Program is $19.25 per month, and will appear on your water bill. The $19.25 per month charge includes a weekly collection of solid waste and every other week collection of recycling materials. This service is limited to ONE black container for solid waste. There is an additional charge for each additional black container with a maximum of four containers. However, green containers filled with trash will not be emptied.

Current Rates                                                                          

• One black container - $19.25                      
• Two black containers - $24.20                     
• Three black containers - $37.30                  
• Four black containers - $50.40                     

Solid waste collection dates are address specific. If you are unsure of your trash/recycle collection day, please click the Trash & Recycling Calendar tab on the left hand side of this page.

Trash & Recycling T-Alerts